Indians have ceased to be ‘argumentative’; instead, they have started surrendering. There’s no intellectual debate; only status-seeking, clever discourse.
The very popular, but quite cynical, perception of politics, particularly in the middle class, is that it is ugly, conspiratorial, and power-centric. Politicians are seen as corrupt, uneducated thugs, who are ignorant of issues. Elections are often described as unnecessarily expensive, and a wasteful exercise. Most people on the street say that there is not much difference between the one party and its candidates or another. “Our fate does not change anyway,” is a common refrain.
And yet, ironically, most elections have 65 to even 80 per cent voter turnout. If there is indeed such deep hatred about politics and politicians, then why do people come out and vote in such large numbers? Why do they, despite such manifestly expressed contempt towards politicians, invite them to grace various occasions?
Even media houses, which generally spread...